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This project was completed as part of the Master in Urban Spatial Analytics Spring 2021 Practicum instructed by Ken Steif, Michael Fichman, and Matt Harris. We thank our instructors and Dexter Locke and Lara Roman from the United States Forest Service, for their help navigating the data and for their feedback.
This document is intended to help other researchers replicate a study of tree canopy loss linked to spatial risk factors. We present three primary outcomes: an analysis of the spatial attributes of tree canopy loss, a model to predict future tree canopy loss risk, and a policy tool that visualizes future tree canopy loss under various construction scenarios. We include hyperlinks thorough our document and in the appendix for reproducibility.
We hope that this document and our web application can help tree planting agencies, tree advocates, and the interested public understand the forces contributing to tree canopy loss in Philadelphia and envision different future scenarios for our tree canopy.